NRA 2018: Personal Reflections

Diana Corona

The massive participation in the NRA Show 2018 of large countries such as Brazil, México, China, Germany, Thailand, Italy, among many others, demonstrated the importance of the show when it comes to opening markets, sharing ideas, technology and participating in global trust and growth of trade.

Other factors worth indicating at this annual meeting of the National Restaurant Association Show-NRA-in Chicago, from May 19 to 22, were the presence of stellar figures in the culinary arts, business, intellectual, large companies and brands, products, science and technology.

To all of this we must add the organization, trust, serious work, quality, joy and respect for mutual success in the exchange of products, ideas and flavors, by the organizers, exhibitors and participants.

México

In the México Pavilion, sponsored and organized by Pro-México And Sagarpa, we found the traditional Mexican products such as moles, fruit, vegetables, tequila, among others. A new innovation in that pavilion was mole powder, which can be prepared at any time and quickly. Although the powdered mole is already prepared and ready to be used when you add only water, you can add more salt or spices according to your taste.

The moles were represented by brands such as Naboa -Food With Soul-Represented by Diego and Beata Prazmowska/i. Another mole is Ayohui -Authentic Tlaxcala recipe-represented by Julius Berruecos.

Salts of Chapulines, Grasshoppers and Worms

However, the most innovative and striking product, especially due to the curious combination of worms and chapulines -grasshoppers- with salt and other combinations of salt with habanero or Jamaica, is the mole brought by Gran Mitla. This company, represented by the young entrepreneur Diana Corona, is Introducing its products into the U.S. as a new trend in food, especially in tequila, beverages and cocktails.

Another Latin pavilion was Ecuador, which exhibited its traditional products such as banana, cocoa, chocolate, shrimp, tostones and plantain chips, among others.

Brazil

The Brazilian pavilion was larger than last year. It included a wide variety of companies with machinery and parts aimed at restaurants, patisseries, ice cream producers, among others. According to conversations with some Brazilian companies, the participants are seeking to enter the U.S. market and the Mexican market through these fairs.

Among these Brazilian companies we find companies like Tita Electrotrading, a company represented by Edinael Magalhāes and Amaurit Alarcón; G. Paniz, food equipment industry, represented by Ivan and Caroline Pascal; and Venancio USA, commercial kitchen equipment, represented by Francisco Madeiros.

Large Companies and Conglomerates

Also, to find companies like Goya, Olé, Sysco, Ataforma, Blue Air among many others, not only helps in this international exchange to develop and grow commercially, but also feeds the friendship in our hearts with familiar faces, names and smiles.

It is very nice to shake hands and share with managers, owners, business representatives and participants in General. Due to the short space I can't write about everyone.

Achieve Good Contacts and Future Success

Blue Air-Commercial Refrigeration, with a wide range of commercial teams in several countries, was present with a large Asian, Latino and American working team. One of these representatives, Enrique Gomez, says that "although this NRA Show seems to have fewer attendees than the past, at the same time we are achieving very good contacts and therefore results."

Ataforma, a Brazilian company that makes parts for machinery and ice cream production, was represented by a well-known businesswoman, Claudia Bosco, with whom the communication is fluent and enjoyable because of this 'we already met last year and we know each other a little'.

It is also so enriching, professional and emotional, to share with neighbors of stands as Lisa Hirsh, from Menu Masters, or with colleagues like Kathleen Furore, Ed Avis, Suzanne Bernhardt.

Foreign Pavilions in the NRA

To meet new companies and commercial representatives of pavilions such as Thailand, Italy, China, among many others, is something to enjoy every year. In these pavilions, I could not escape its attractive atmosphere and curiosity for its new products and ideas, and everything in a frame of kindness, respect and mutual joy. Here are some of these gratifying interactions:

Italy

Company Farchioni -Italian oil, beer and wine-represented by Barbara Accardo and Marco Farchioni Bringing a product "grown and developed in high terrain" which gives special and different peculiarities to lowland wines, achieving new flavors and textures.

Thailand

Emprendedoras de Thailandia, Chanya Angwarawong y Niruemon Sookkasem

The Pavilion of Thailand Presents some culinary innovations such as: Monchan, Thai

Thai Sensation, brings a wide range of products such as: Healthy Snack, snacks. Vital Drink, beverages and revitalising teas. Thai Food Wisdom, among several products, promotes a lot of Sirichom, a type of broccoli that comes in a small container to be consumed immediately as snack. It comes with or without chili and other spices.

In the Pavillion of Thailand I met two representatives, Chanya Angwarawong And Niruemon Sookkasem, nice and charming people, both in their attention and in their natural personal art by interacting, showing their products and culture.

Angwarawong, a young entrepreneur representing products such as Dury/Duron, Healthy Snack, among others, speaks a very good English. He described his efforts, preparation and psychology studies performed in the past at UIC University, Chicago, and his participation in the NRA Show and how he is currently helping his country through fairs like this.

Commercial Psychologist Works in Family Business

The responsibility to work in the company of the mother and family is urgent, says Angwarawong. "I work in the business marketing process, and that is where I apply psychology to understand the needs and mentality of the market and customers to achieve better results."

"Here, at this NRA Show, we are supported and sponsored by the Ministry of Industrial Promotion of Thailand to promote products and Thai companies ", indicates Angwarawong, adding that "this show is huge compared to the shows in Thailand. We've found great distributors. We went to food fairs in Australia and Japan, but this is the first time that the whole team attended the NRA fair. "

She points out that in addition to testing and sharing with other stands meals and experiences, she is very pleased with the innovations and new technology present in this show, adding that "the variety of vegetable meats -vegetarian meat- presented in this show, cannot be found in Thailand."

Impacted by Large Portions of Food in the US

For his part, something that impacted Sookkasem is the American portions. "The portions of the meals here in America are very large compared to the portions we usually eat in Thailand" she says, adding that she does like the American and Mexican food.

This fair brings together the largest number of experts, manufacturers, distributors, vendors, exhibitors, chefs, managers, restaurant owners and public interested in the food service field, and all in the same place, which is wonderful for the restaurant industry.

Beer Glasses that are Filled from the Bottom

We could also see new and innovative ideas and machines such as: a glass of beer that instead of being filled up – the traditional form– is now filled with the beer of its choice by its base, below.

Or, chocolate maintained in solid state through a system like the Turkish Kebab skewer style and with different flavors and colors, which when cut offers that variety of flavors and colors in addition to its attractive attraction to the public.

Or, Dr. Fry, Electromagnetic Cookware, a machine composed of two electrode plates. Electrodes create a physical state in the fryer and in the oil that prevents the oil from entering the product that is being fried. In this way, it saves oil and cooks in a healthier way.

Educational Offerings

The NRA Show also included lectures and presentations on food, trends, management of restaurants and businesses, among a wide variety of topics.

In this field we have Rick Bayless, a renowned Mexican chef, food industry business man, creator of his own Mexican food show on TV, and author of seven cook books. Bayless has been an ambassador and promoter of Mexican culinary art in the United States. Bayless has created multiple businesses and restaurants around the country. This drives others, both Mexicans and Americans, to follow his commercial steps.

Finally, it is important to say thanks to the directors, organizers and workers in general of the NRA Show for the effective work accomplished. Thanks to exhibitors, visitors and participants to this very important event for restaurants and the food service industry; Without them the show would not be possible. Until next year friends, May 18-21, 2019, to celebrate the 100th NRA Show in Chicago.

Jorge Rennella, a journalist, translator and writer based in Chicago, is part of the work team of the magazine El Restaurante and eMex News. Contact him at: jorge@restmex.com

Keep an eye on the development of this and other news and we will report in upcoming e-Mex. Thank you for your time and follow us on eMex and the Magazine restaurant.